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FAQ

General questions

Most common questions asked

Is it really safe to drink tap water?

Yes! Consolidated Mutual's water passes all regulatory mandates. Colorado's Department of Public Health and Environment and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency specify all regulations.

Where does Consolidated's water come from?

Our water comes primarily from Clear Creek, as well as the agricultural irrigation ditches throughout Jefferson County. A portion of the water we deliver is purchased from Denver Water.

Is the water protected from contamination?

Not entirely. There are many possibilities for contamination, including unauthorized and illegal dumping, or a bad chemical spill (including auto accidents near or in Clear Creek) that might put toxins into some of our water sources. Fortunately, there are a lot of tests we do every day to ensure our source water is clean and safe to treat, and know within minutes of potential contaminations.

Do I need to take special considerations for my fish tank?

Yes, you should always use a dechlorinating agent to rid your tank of excess chloramine. These are commercially available at just about any pet store.

Account and Billing Information

Accounting and billing information

What is the bi-monthly fixed service charge?

The bi-monthly customer fixed service charge is a flat charge which is due and payable from each stockholder whether water is used or not. This service charge covers fixed costs for meter reading, customer service, processing and collecting bills. Another component of this charge is a portion of Consolidated’s demand cost which is a standing cost incurred by Consolidated to be prepared to meet each stockholder’s water delivery requirement. Demand costs are dependent upon meter size and the larger the stockholder’s meter, the greater the demand placed on Consolidated’s distribution system. Many of these costs are tied to the facilities required to deliver water such as pipelines, maintenance of customer’s service lines, storage tanks, reservoirs and pumping stations. Water service must be available to our stockholders 24 hours per day; 7 days per week; 365 days per year.

EPay / EBill

View and pay your bill online using your checking or savings account.

How do I sign up to receive my statement electronically?

It’s easy. From the login page, select “Click here to enroll.” At the Authentication page, enter the Account Name, Account Number and Billing ID from your last mailed statement and follow the prompts.

We will be relocating soon and want to receive our statements electronically. Do I have to wait for my first mailed statement in order to sign up to do so?

No. We can enable EBill when your account is created by providing a username and temporary password. Thank you for asking!

Will my statement be e-mailed to me?

No. For security purposes your statement can only be accessed through our secure web portal. You will be notified via e-mail with a link to the login page whenever a new statement is available.

What if I don't receive the notification e-mail?

Following enrollment for EBill you will receive a confirmation e-mail. Should you not receive the confirmation e-mail, first check your spam folder and adjust spam settings to allow these e-mails. Next, login to EBill and select "User Options" to verify your e-mail address is correct. Finally, EBill access is not limited to an e-mail notification. You may login at any time to access current or past statements.

What will my EBill look like?

EBill statements are quite similar to mailed statements.

When will I see my first EBill?

Following enrollment any current invoice is available online immediately. Going forward you will have access to a 24 month invoice history.

How do I view my EBill?

Adobe Reader is required to view your EBill. If you don't have Adobe Reader simply click on the Get Adobe Reader icon and select the appropriate version to download and install.

Will my mailed statement stop automatically?

Yes, by default your printed and mailed statement will stop when you elect to receive your statement electronically.

Can I go back to a mailed statement?

Yes. Should you need to revert to a printed and mailed statement, go to "User Options" and check the paper statement option. Your statement will then be mailed to you beginning with your next billing cycle.

If I elect to receive e-Statements, am I required to pay using the "Make A payment" link?

No. The Make A Payment option is simply another convenient way to submit your payment from your checking or savings account.

Can I pay using a credit card?

Currently, payments from checking or savings accounts only are accepted.

Why do I have to sign up again and have another login in order to use the "Make A Payment" link?

For security purposes our online payment system is a separate secure portal.

Can I make a payment other than the amount due?

Yes. Simply edit the payment amount shown and submit the payment.

When will my payment be acknowledged?

Payments submitted before 10:00 am Mountain Standard Time will post the same day. Payments submitted after 10:00 am MST will post the following banking day.

When will my payment be received?

Payment is received following approval from your bank.

Can payments be cancelled or modified after they are submitted?

Yes. Payments can be modified or cancelled online prior to the 10:00 am MST posting time. Should an adjustment be necessary after that please contact us at 505.898.2661.

What confirmation or payment history is provided?

A confirmation number is issued with every payment submitted. A payment history is retained online indicating amount submitted, date and amount submitted along with the confirmation number.

Water Treatment Process

How our water is treated

What chemicals do you put in the water?

Initially chlorine dioxide is added as a preoxidant to remove taste and odors and dissolved metals. When needed powdered activated carbon, (PAC) can be added for heavier taste and odor events, and potassium permanganate can be added for our heavier manganese events. Then poly aluminum sulfate, (PACL) is added to bind with foreign matter such as dirt particles and organic carbon forming larger clumps that can easily be removed during the first part of the treatment process (sedimentation). After the water has been filtered, free chlorine is added to protect the drinking water from potentially harmful microscopic organisms. If needed pH adjustment can be handled with sodium hydroxide to make the water neutral for corrosion control. This keeps the water from leaching the lead copper from the pipes within your homes, but is normally not needed as our source waters are fairly neutral to begin with. Once the water is ready to be distributed into the system, we add ammonium sulfate which changes the free chlorine to chloramines... which makes sure the water doesn't smell like a swimming pool and are longer-lasting disinfectants. They travel with the water throughout the system.

Water Quality

Questions about color and smell

Why does my water sometimes smell funny or taste bad?

There are a number of reasons why water can smell funny or taste bad. For example, water can pick up odors or taste from new plumbing. Also, if you have not turned on your water after an extended period of time (you've been on vacation for two weeks), it can begin to smell different. Most often, taste and odor events occur seasonally during blooms of algae or aquatic plants. While the algae are completely removed during treatment, sometimes the odors persist. Tastes and odors in treated water are not harmful, but we do take steps to try and eliminate them.

Why does the water sometimes appear discolored?

Discoloration is usually a result of the water picking up rust from aging pipes. It is NOT harmful, but it can hurt the water's "aesthetics". Long-term discolorations may also be a result of a pipe building up some sediment, and it may be time for your service line to be cleaned. If you would like to find out if your neighborhood is on the list, or to schedule an appointment, call 303-238-0451.

Do I need a water filter?

Your tap water is perfectly safe without one. If you have an internal problem with your plumbing, you may want to consider a filter or treatment system.

Is there lead in my water? If lead is found, is there anything I do about it?

Consolidated Mutual's water contains no lead in it's treated or source water. Lead may exist in existing customer plumbing. According to the EPA, two types of homes may be at risk for lead contamination:

Older homes (pre-WWII) with lead services or lead pipe
homes that were built between 1982 and 1987, which used copper pipe with lead-based solder

Lead-based solder was banned from use on domestic drinking water plumbing in 1987.

There are a great deal of professional companies who can assist you in eliminating lead in your tap water.

Should I be concerned about radon?

No, Consolidated provides only surface water such as lakes and streams to produce drinking water. Radon is not found in surface waters.

Can toxic spills that seep into the ground or groundwater contaminate my drinking water?

It is highly unlikely that toxic spills in the ground or groundwater could contaminate the drinking water since the treated water system is enclosed. See question number 3 for more information.

What are Cryptosporidium and Giardia?

Cryptosporidium and Giardia are microorganisms that can affect human health if they are in drinking water. While both organisms exist in our source waters, none of them exist in our treated water. Effective filtration and the addition of chlorine during the treatment process eliminate the threat of sickness from these organisms.

Can I drink hot tap water?

No, don't use hot water from the tap for food or beverage preparation. Your hot water systems (tanks, boilers) contain metallic parts that corrode over time and contaminate the hot water. Instead, use cold water and heat it up for warm beverages or food preparation.